⌘K
Find a vehicleRecallsCompareNewsPricing
Look one up
VIN decoderTrouble codesProblems by systemService bulletinsInvestigations
Browse the record
GuidesRankingsAll makesDriver-assist crashesWhat is in the dataWarranty extensions
Tools & data
Recall WatchFleet VIN checkRecall disclosure formCar crosswordCost calculatorsTitle brandsAPI & data
Account
Sign inGarage
Home›Kia›Kia Sportage› electrical problems
Owner complaints · Electrical System · every model year

Kia Sportage electrical problems, 2016–2027

286 of the 1,541 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Kia Sportage 2016–2027 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2023 (85), 2017 (62), 2018 (29). Filed under the same heading across these years: 9 manufacturer bulletins, 5 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

286 complaints, 12 model years 19% of everything filed about the Sportage typically at 46k miles

Kia Sportage electrical problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the electrical systemShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20271100%—5 TSBsthe year →
2026925%—41 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20251927%—27 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20242120%—61 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2023 in depth8528%—117 TSBs · 3 recallsthe record →
2022817%—32 TSBsthe year →
2021611%—45 TSBsthe year →
20201912%—53 TSBsthe year →
20191014%—38 TSBsthe year →
20182918%—61 TSBsthe year →
2017 in depth6215%60k76 TSBs · 1 recallthe record →
20161713%—53 TSBsthe year →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.

Advertisement

When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
286complaints name the electrical system, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2018: 5 · 2019: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2021: 20 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 44 · 2024: 32 · 2025: 75 · 2026: 62

46kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 65 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 9,000 and 72,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

I will be driving 70mph on the freeway and suddenly the "check hybrid system" alert flashes and I have about 20 seconds to safely pullover. Once stopped it will not drive over 5-10 mph for about a half a mile, then completely dies.
Electrical System Aug 21, 2025 NHTSA owner report
After driving for roughly 7 hours upon activating my cruise control, after using the entire drive with no issues, it went up to 110 mph as soon as I hit the button and would not allow me to adjust the speed down. It would turn off upon pressing pause, cruise control, or brakes but would rise to 110 mph everytime.
Electrical System Jul 21, 2025 NHTSA owner report
All four power window regulator/motors have had to be replaced. Vehicle placed in service may 2016 and currently has 34,000 miles. Driver side and passenger side regulator/motor's failed while vehicle still under warranty.
Electrical System at 34,015 miles Feb 28, 2020 NHTSA owner report
Power window motors failing. This car has less than 55,000 mile one it and only 2 years old but three out of the four power window motors have failed in the past two months
Electrical System at 54,000 miles Nov 1, 2019 NHTSA owner report
Kia knowing that they are selling nothing but junk to consumers are refusing to provide ANY Assistance to customers whom pay 25+K for their trash called vechicles. Kia has recalled my vechicle 2× now for Motor and ECU problems and now my vechicle is having electrical problems and had to be towed to a dealership to be looked at.
Electrical System Aug 30, 2021 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the electrical system, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

9 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the Kia Sportage

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Kia Sportage problems by year →

From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Which Kia Sportage years have the most electrical complaints?

2023, 85; 2017, 62; 2018, 29. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2027 (100%).

Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Kia Sportage?

Yes — 5 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V046000 (2026), 25V874000 (2025), 23V298000 (2023), 22V651000 (2023). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do electrical problems show up on the Kia Sportage?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 46,206 miles across the model years; half of them between 9,000 and 72,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?

Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.